Medication use by Team South Africa during the XXVIIIth Olympiad: A model for quantity estimation for multi-coded team events

Objective. This descriptive study was undertaken to report the medications used by the athletes and officials of Team South Africa at the 2004 Olympic Games and to provide a model for the estimation of quantities to be used for planning support to future events. Setting. South African medical facility, 2004 Olympic Games, Athens, Greece. Methods. The names of the medications, including the dosage and quantity of medications dispensed, were recorded in the pharmacy stock control book at the South African medical facility, 2004 Olympic Games, Athens, Greece. Retrospective review of patient files and medical encounter forms was also undertaken to check against the pharmacy stock control book to ensure complete data capture of dispensed medications. Main outcome measures. Quantities of medications consumed during the observation period. The units of medication consumed per travelling team member were calculated by dividing the number of units (tablets, capsules, tubes, inhalers, bottles and ampoules) used during the trip by the total number of travelling team members. Results. Complete records of medications included in the travelling pharmacy are described. Quantities of medications included ranged from single units to 2 250 units and percentage use of various medications varied from 0% to 100% of stocks. Units per team member ranged from 0 to 9.43. Medications were consumed from all categories of agents. The most utilised agents included the analgesics, musculoskeletal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents as well as certain vitamin and mineral supplements. Conclusions. This study describes the consumption of pharmacological agents by the athletes and officials of Team South Africa during the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. It also provides a model to assist with the estimation of quantities of medications to be included in the travelling pharmacy for future international multi-coded sports events

Profile of medical and injury consultations of Team South Africa during the XXVIIIth Olympiad, Athens 2004

Objective. This descriptive study was undertaken to document the nature of medical and injury consultations of the athletes and officials of the South African Team at the 2004 Olympic Games, and to provide data for planning future events. Setting. South African medical facility, 2004 Olympic Games, Athens, Greece. Methods. Total number of consultations and diagnoses were ascertained from medical logs and patient files which were completed daily by the members of the medical team. A retrospective clinical audit of medical records was then undertaken and the data were then compared with similar data collected during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Acute and chronic-soft tissue (muscle strain, ligament sprain, tendon injury, contusion or laceration) and bony injury were analysed in terms of nature of injury, grading of severity and anatomical region injured. Main outcome measures. Number of consultations due to medical complaints or injuries among athletes and officials. Results. A total of 180 medical consultations were logged during the time in Athens while 348 consultations were logged in Sydney. The daily consultation rate was 6 per day in Athens compared with 13 per day in Sydney. In Athens, 84% of consultations were with athletes and the remainder (16%) with officials - this was similar to Sydney. The most common medical complaints in Athens were dermatological (16%), ENT (13%), and respiratory (8%) in nature, which contrasts with the profile of consultations in Sydney (ENT 18%; neurological system 16% and respiratory 16%). Acute injury and chronic injury accounted for 26% and 14% of consultations respectively. In Athens, the most common acute and chronic injuries were soft-tissue injuries. The most common acute injury regions were the foot and ankle (25%), upper leg (17%) and knee (17%). A total 77% of acute injuries were grade I, 17% grade II and 6% grade III in severity. The most common chronic injury regions were foot and ankle (32%), lumbar spine (32%), and shoulder (11%). These injury profiles were similar to those documented in Sydney 2000. Conclusions. Injury and illness complaints of the South African team were fewer in Athens 2004 compared with those documented during Sydney 2000. This can be attributed to local environmental conditions and travel across time zones. These data should be useful for planning medical services for future multi-coded events. The analysis of the nature of consultations suggests that it should be a prerequisite for physicians travelling with a multi-coded events team to have broad knowledge of both medical and injury management of athletes. Specifically, a sound knowledge of the management of soft-tissue injury is an important prerequisite for the personnel of the medical team

A “scattered” SCAT in a football goalkeeper: a case report

Background: In an acute field-side setting, it is often challenging to differentiate benign sports-related concussion (SRC) from potential, more sinister, intracranial pathology. Moreover, recovery in the ensuing days and weeks is often complex as the resolution of classical signs and symptoms does not always follow a standard pattern. Aim: To highlight the value of a structured and repeated thorough clinical assessment approach toward SRC, particularly as atypical and unexpected sequences in patient recovery patterns may require further specialist referral and intervention. Findings: A football goalkeeper sustained a concussion in which symptoms failed to resolve as expected. Deterioration in his clinical condition led to an eventual diagnosis of Chiari malformation (type I), which required surgical intervention.Implications: Non-typical recovery patterns of concussion may be indicative of increased severity when considered retrospectively. However, clinicians should not discount the possibility of underlying conditions. Keywords: concussion, soccer, sports-related head injur

If the shoe fits... should you just wear it? A complete calcaneal stress fracture in a female recreational runner

Shoe choice by runners may follow trends related to purported generalised benefits rather than following an individual risk- benefit analysis. The benefits and risks related to minimalist footwear for running has been a much debated topic. The authors report a case of a complete calcaneal stress fracture in an otherwise healthy female recreational runner in the first three weeks following her conversion from a traditional cushioned running shoe to a minimalist type of running shoe. Clinicians should be aware of the potential added bone stress with reduced cushioning and the potential risks in transitioning to new footwear

Incidence and burden of injury at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games held during the Covid-19 pandemic: A prospective cohort study of 66 045 athlete days

Objective To describe the epidemiology of injuries at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, including injuries sustained in the new sports of badminton and taekwondo. Methods Injury data were obtained daily via the established web-based injury and illness surveillance system (WEB-IISS; 81 countries, 3836 athletes) and local organizing committee medical facilities (81 countries, 567 athletes)

Factors predicting walking intolerance in patients with peripheral arterial disease(PAD) and intermittent claudication

Objective: It is not clear which physiological variables determine walking intolerance in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Design: The physiological response to a graded treadmill exercise test (GTT) in patients with PAD was characterized. Setting: Patients were recruited from the Department of Vascular Surgery at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Subjects: 31 patients diagnosed with PVD were included in the study. Outcome measures: During a GTT, peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), peak minute ventilation (VEpeak), peak heart rate and peak venous lactate concentrations were measured. These variables were compared to those measured in a comparison group previously studied in this laboratory. Ankle brachial index was measured at rest and after exercise. During the GTT maximum walking distance (MWD) and pain free walking distance (PFWD) were measured to determine walking tolerance. Results: Peak venous lactate concentrations did not correlate significantly with either PFWD (r=-0.08; P=0.3) or MWD (r=-0.03; P=0.4). Resting ABI did not correlate with either MWD (r=008; P=0.3) or PFWD (r=-0.15; P=0.15). Subjects terminated exercise at significantly (

Peripheral arterial disease and intermittent claudication: Efficacy of short term upper body strength training, dynamic exercise training, and advice to exercise at home

Objective: To compare 2 training programmes and advice to exercise at home on physiological adaptations in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Design: 30 patients with a typical history of PAD and intermittent claudication randomised to either a upper body strength training programme (UBST), dynamic (walking, cycling, circuit) conventional exercise rehabilitation programme (CER) or advice to walk as “much as possible” at home (CONT). Before and after intervention groups performed a standard graded treadmill exercise test (GTET) and a 6 minute walk test (SMWT) to determine peak physiological parameters and walking distances. Maximal walking distance (MWD), pain free walking distance (PFWD), VO2peak, heart rate and perceived pain were measured. Results: MWD on the GTET increased significantly in the CER group compared to the CONT and UBST group [93.9 ±79 vs 7.0 ±19.8 vs 7.3 ±46 %; CER vs UBST vs CONT P=0.003]. Similarly VO2peak increased with CER compared to the CONT and UBST group [28.4 ±20 vs. -6.2 ±15 vs -1.0 ±21 %; CER VS UBST vs CONT P=0.004]. During the SMWT the CER and UBST group improved in PFWD compared to the CONT group [37 ±47 vs 27 ±71 vs -30 ±29 %; CER vs UBST vs CONT P=0.03] and perceived pain decreased in the CER group compared to the UBST group [-24 ±39 vs 27±48 %; CER vs UBST P=0.01]. Conclusion: CER improves physiological parameters and walking distances more than UBST does. CER is effective within 6 weeks. Verbal encouragement to exercise is an ineffective form of management